ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PARISH? WELCOME!
Welcome to those who want to make our parish their faith home. You may have come from other places. You may have been “away for a while”. Be assured that we love to have you among us. We would appreciate it very much if you identified yourself at Mass. It would also help if you would take the time to fill out a registration form. The next time you are with us, you may leave it in the collection basket or give it to one of the ushers or to the priest. Thank you and welcome.

LAST SUNDAY - THE FIRST PART OF THE MASS A BIT DIFFERENT
Coming into church on Sunday, signing ourselves with water from the baptismal font, and starting the Mass are very routine activities for us. So routine, in fact, that weeasily overlook how significant these ordinary activities really are. That is why we elaborated on them a bit last Sunday and we took the liberty to change the first part of the Mass.

Why did we do that? It was to mark the presence of the confirmation and first communion candidates with their families in our midst. What these younger members of our parishes are preparing themselves for concerns us as a parish too. They are getting ready to join us at the Table of the Lord around which we gather every Sunday. They are making the journey from the baptismal font to the Table of the Lord. It basically means that we want to see them included in what we normally do on Sunday.

THE FOCUS WAS ON SOME IMPORTANT FAITH GESTURES
We started last Sunday’s Mass with the Old Testament story of Samuel being called by God. At first, Samuel is confused, but eventually gets it and responds: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening”. Samuel represents us all as we all are called by name by our gracious God. We expressed that with calling forth the names of our confirmation and first communion candidates (who were assembled around the baptismal font at the entrance to the church) and then placing their names on the central symbol of our faith, the Cross. We all had the baptismal water come over us again as a sign of the ongoing renewal of our baptism in which we are graced with God’s love and peace. What else can we do in response but sing our praise to God in the Glory to God we sang together as we processed behind the Cross to the front of the church.

The Cross was placed next to the lit Easter Candle, the two central symbols of our faith because they speak of Christ’s death and resurrection. The parents of the candidates came forward with the baptismal candle of their children which they had been given “in trust” when at their request their children were baptized.

They lit the baptismal candles anew from the Easter Candle and handed the lit baptismal candle on to their children who, in turn, went around the church to light the tapers that all those in the congregation had.

This was a beautiful sign that we pass on the faith we cherish to the next generation and to each other and support each other in that faith. Once everybody’s candle was lit we all sang the very appropriate song The Light of Christ...

Then we listened to the proclamation of the Gospel of that Sunday, responded to it with the profession of faith, and then continued with the Mass as usual.

Of course, one could look at this ritual behaviour in different ways. For us, though, these are important gestures of faith that say a lot about how we are as Christians and how we see each other and ourselves as Christians, all somehow held together by who Jesus Christ is for us.

THIS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH - SESSION FOR PARENTS OF FIRST COMMUNION CANDIDATES
Part of the session will be a reflection on the experience of last Sunday. There were so many important aspects of our faith in the way we handled the first part of the Mass that it is worth to take a second look at it.

We will also look ahead. The forty day Lenten season -- - in preparation for Easter is upon us. We want to make that part of the preparation for First Communion as well. After all, both aim at a more profound union with the crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

SOME HELPFUL REFLECTIONS BY ROIHEISER AND O’LEARY
There is a supplement to this Sunday’s bulletin. Faith is not primarily about difficult formulas and complicated ritual. It is about life when we try to live it with the conviction that God — as we have come to know him in Jesus Christ — is very much part of it. That is why formation in the faith — which is more than knowing something about it — is above all an adult and ongoing affair. Both Rolheiser and O’Leary show us how close to home it really is.

OLV CHOIR PRACTICE
Interested in joining us at our next choir practice? We would love to see you there! Please meet us at 6.00 pm instead of 7:00 pm , starting this Wednesday February 14th, at OLV. This is in order to have time to practice the special hymns we have for the Triduum. --those 3 biggest days of our Christian calendar beginning on April 5th! Come and sing!

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION
The next session in the preparation program will be on Tuesday, February 13th, 7:30 pm. This is a session for parents.

PPC MEETING
The next joint PPC meeting on Monday, February 12th will be held in the OLV conference room. Start time is 7:15 pm.

FRIENDSHIP CLUB
The Friendship Club will be holding their annual bazaar on Wednesday, February 21st, from 1:30 to 4:00 pm., with Bake, Kraft and novelty tables. There will also be games and a light lunch will be served. Admission is $1:00. Everyone is welcome.

ST. COLUMBAN’S ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S PARTY
St. Columban parish will be holding their Annual St. Patrick’s Party onSaturday, March 17th at 8:00 pm at the Royal CanadianLegion, 231 Maloney Blvd. West , Gatineau . There will be a Country Music Band and Irish Entertainers. Great prizes and lunch will be served. Cost is $8.00. Tickets are available from St. Columban’s Wardens, Marty Bums, Jim Foley and Maynard Robinson or call 819-561-3352.

CEREAL BARS
Sunday February 18th is Cereal Bar collection day. A box will be available for your donation of bars for the Buckingham Elementary school. Thank you.

INCOME TAX RECEIPTS - OLV
Please drop off a self-addressed stamped envelope in the collection basket or at the rectory, if you wish to receive an Income Tax Receipt for 2006.